Bradley Speech Team 2013 State Champions

March 5, 2013

This past weekend at Northern Illinois University the Bradley Speech Team brought home its 13th consecutive State Championship scoring an impressive 312 points besting 2nd place Illinois State University (120 pts) and 3rd place North Central College (77 pts). In addition to the team title, students brought home state championships in 9 of the 11 events.

The State Tournament is also the qualifier for the Interstate Oratorical Contest (IOC), where two students from each state compete at the country's oldest and most prestigious public speaking contest. This year, Brooke Stevenson (Sr.) and Jacoby Cochran (Sr.) qualified to represent Illinois by winning 1st and 2nd, respectively, in Oratory. Not only does winning Oratory qualify Stevenson for IOC, but the award also holds a special place in the hearts of the Bradley family because it is named after Curt Byars '07, Bradley Alum who held a passion for the power of persuasion and was taken at an all too young of age.